"But suppose we content ourselves with getting so far as this, and, when we have got the brig off, turn her round and go back to the main stream and sail up there?" asked Sir Humphrey. "Which, sir?" said the captain, smiling; "the Amazons seem to be all main streams, winding over thousands of miles of country, as far as we can make out; but if we go back it's a chance if we get up so far as we here." Sir Humphrey merely nodded in reply to the captain's remarks, and then they all rose and walked away in different directions, each of them evidently trying to think of a means of getting over the difficulty which confronted them. CHAPTER NINETEEN. DISCUSSING PLANS. The next time the party were assembled was over the midday meal, when the conversation naturally turned to the question of continuing their voyage or going back. Brace broke out with the exclamation: "We must not be beaten by a little difficulty such as this!" but his brother checked him by laying a hand upon his arm and turning to Briscoe. "What were you going to say?" he asked the American. "Firstly, gentlemen, that I don't want to interfere. Go where you like and how you like: it's all interesting to me; but you won't mind hearing my opinion?" "Certainly not," said Sir Humphrey. "What do you think?" "That we have arrived in a thoroughly wild country which most likely no one has ever reached before." "Yes," said Sir Humphrey. "So how would it be to make this headquarters and ask Captain Banes to rig out the biggest boat with sail and some canvas and a light pole to set up from end to end of a night to cover her in, and then row and sail up wherever we could as long as our provisions lasted? Fresh water we shouldn't have to carry; we could bring down something with our guns, or hook up something with fishing-lines; and I daresay we might get up hundreds of miles, for we should be sure to come upon side streams. That's only my idea, gentlemen. If you think differently I'm quite contented. I'm ready to keep to the bargain I have made. To me this is a regular naturalist's paradise." "I quite agree with you, Mr Briscoe," said Sir Humphrey warmly, "and now that my weakness and the lack of spirit brought about by the effect of my wound are passing away I am getting more contented with the cruise every hour." "Yes, sir, you alter every day," said the American, smiling. "What do you think of the plan, captain?" said Sir Humphrey. "Splendid, sir," was the reply. "I like it tremendously, and I was going to propose something of the kind myself. You see, you'll never want for help. My lads will be just like a set of schoolboys going out for a holiday. The only ones who will grumble will be those who have to stop aboard the brig. I'm like Mr Briscoe: ready to go where you like, and how you like: you two gents have only to say the word; and I don't think you'll better that plan." "What do you say, Brace?" said his brother, turning to him.